Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons: The Need for Rehabilitation to cope with life after Insurgency in Yobe State.

Abstract

The Boko Haram insurgency has brought about an enormous humanitarian crisis resulting in massive displacement of persons from their places of residence. Yobe State is one of the most affected states where a number of casualties have been recorded as a result of the insurgency. As the number of casualties remains unaccountable, so also the number of persons displaced by the insurgency in the State. It is obvious that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are the most vulnerable category of people to poverty in the State because of their inaccessibility to the basic needs for life support and protection. This study examines the extent of the humanitarian crisis associated with the Boko Haram insurgency as well as how the displaced persons who returned for resettlement would cope with life after the recent phenomenon. Findings of the study have shown that displacement of persons brought about abandoning of income generating activities, disruption in trading, closing of markets in most of the conflict-affected areas and deterioration of food security. There are numerous problems facing the internally displaced persons who returned for resettlement in Yobe State. Some of these problems include inadequate safety and security, poor food and nutrition, lack of shelter, inadequate educational and health care facilities. Considering the Human Needs Theory, this study attempts to investigate on the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, focusing on Yobe state as an area of the study. The paper recommends that the government needs to formulate and implement policies that will respond to the menace of vulnerability of persons and block any avoidable factor leading to further displacement of persons.